Apparently there is a new kind of travel in town. Instead of packing up and sightseeing, some people are opting instead to use their vacation days for volunteering. In the article I found outlining the new trend, it stated that “volunteer tourism” makes up about 1.6 million people, spending roughly $2 billion dollars per year on volunteering.
Wowza! While it’s predominately young adults, taking to the open road/sky to give their time and services to orphanages and other similar causes {probably because they have less familial commitments, etc.}, I know plenty of adults who have decided to forego their Thanksgiving feasts, etc. in order to serve at food banks, whether locally or abroad.
I thought the whole concept of combining a new place with service was pretty darn cool. In fact, I think everyone should do this at least once in their life. What a neat experience for a college student, a family or something to do on your own. I mean, for me, travel is about experiencing new things, broadening your perspective {ok, and eating pastries in a new city, but that’s not really the point}, and then growing as a person. Volunteering for a cause truly in need would take those aspects to a whole new level.
So, what do you think? Would you ever consider volunt-touring? What would you hope to learn from it?
~Mavis
Donna in VA says
A man in the office volunteers for Habitat for Humanity during a week’s vacation each year. They work on houses for those in need. He travels to wherever the location is, I don’t know what they do for staying overnight or meals.
Mavis says
That sounds awesome!
Jenny says
I always thought Hawkwatch International
(hawkwatch.org)
Promoting the preservation of raptors would be interesting to volunteer for.
Mavis says
You should do it!
Janice says
I’m heading to Tanzania this October for my fourth time and have also done volunteer work in Bolivia. Each trip has given me different experiences and memories. People tell me what I’m doing is so nice but honestly I get way more out of the trips than I give. I wish everyone had the opportunity to volunteer in another part of the world. It certainly makes us appreciate what we have when we get home. While many organizations have mostly younger volunteers there are really good ones out there that work well for us that are a bit “older”. It’s worth investigating to find one that works best for your age group, schedules and values.
Mavis says
I’ve always been a little fascinated by Tanzania. What was it like there?
Janice says
I have always felt safe while in Tanzania. Just like anywhere though you need to use common sense. The people work so hard, are very entrepreneurial and truly appreciative of anything we do for them or gifts we bring – especially the women. The one thing we learned though is to ask them what they need and not take for granted that we know what is best for them.
Jeanne says
I recently read an article by a woman who had voluntoured for several charities and she made a great point. Why spend all the money to send an unqualified group of girls to build a library? They apparently didn’t know what they were doing, and a night crew had to come in each night to fix their work. Why not send the money to educate the locals instead and pay them for their labor? I’m not saying its all bad, but there are a lot of guilty white people that pay to feel better about themselves, some of them do good, others not so much. Remember the woman from Idaho that was “rescuing” orphans after the Haiti earthquake? Apparently a lot of them weren’t orphans.
Since I am already a public servant, I don’t feel the need to go somewhere exotic and volunteer.
Janice says
This dilemma has been debated for years with valid points on both sides. I know the groups I have travelled with have been able to teach the local people skills they would otherwise not have – cake decorating, baking banana bread, plumbing, drywall, etc. This not only leaves everyone with a sense of accomplishment but enables many to find work and feed their families long after we are gone. I could write a book, from personal experience, on “just sending the money”. With rampant corruption those funds don’t always go where they should. I believe in the “teach a man to fish” theory. Voluntourism isn’t for everyone but I hope that we can accept each others choices and support them.
Mellie says
I agree completely. In the last year our church has changed its mission model to follow the guidelines layed out in Robert Lupton’s book Toxic Charity. It addresses these issues and is an interesting read.
Jen Y says
This is very common in my church (Southern Baptist) & has been all my life (I’m 48). The past few yrs our church has had groups go to Hait, Uganda, Alaska, Toronto, Chicago & Arkansas. There have been groups of teens(with adult supervisors), men only, women only & family groups. They’ve done everything from running child care, demolition & rebuilding, vet clinic & medical clinics. I love that we do things like this locally as well as world wide.
Mavis says
I think it would be such a meaningful experience!
christine says
I joined the Peace Corps in my early twenties and spent 2.5 years in South America. I signed up because I wanted to be of service, and I wanted to have an adventure and travel. It was not always easy, but all in all a great experience.
Rachel says
When I turned 23 I spent six weeks in China volunteering in an orphanage/foster home. I have five siblings who are all adopted from various parts of China and wanted to go see what their country was like. While I agree we shouldn’t just send people to build a building if they have no experience, everybody can rock babies and help feed babies and that to me was the best time spent of all my worldwide adventures. I had a chance to do some sightseeing, understand the local culture and at the same time, was able to give back a little bit and see what my siblings first year or two was like. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Mavis says
That sounds like an incredible experience. I think things like that teach you life lessons very few will ever have the opportunity to learn. Priceless!